PDF WSSD Act 48 Guidelines

WSSD Act 48 Guidelines

How many credits do I need to earn in each five-year Act 48 compliance period?

Educators must earn one of the following or any combination to maintain active certification status: 6 credits of collegiate study* 6 credits of PDE-approved continuing professional education courses 180 hours of continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences;

*Note: Each semester collegiate credit is equal to 30 continuing education hours.

What if I earn more than the needed credits during a compliance period?

There is no provision in Act 48 to carry credits over into the next compliance period.

Can I take courses in any area of education?

All credits must be related to an educator's certificate type or area of assignment unless enrolled in an administrative program. In addition, the areas listed below are options for all educators:

1. Courses in the content area of educator's certification 2. Courses in instructional methods, pedagogy, strategies/tools for the classroom, classroom

management, assessment or evaluation. 3. Courses that help teachers with student improvement in reading/writing/speaking/listening,

English, literacy regardless of certification. 4. Courses that help teachers with student improvement in mathematics and mathematical

reasoning regardless of certification. 5. Courses in the area of inclusive classrooms:

a. Students with mild to severe disabilities b. Special needs learners to improve outcomes, use motivation, classroom

management, and instructional practices. 6. Courses in instructional technology that improve the educator's capacity to deliver

instruction in a 21st century learning environment through the use of computers, computer software or internet technology. 7. Courses or noncredit activities in the areas of student health, interpersonal skills in a school environment, safe and supportive schools, and resiliency (e.g., safety cares training, CPR training).

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What are the allowable professional education activities?

PDE Act 48 Professional Education Plan Guidelines indicate the following areas provide opportunities for professional education activities. For Act 48 credit through WSSD, the activities listed below require alignment to a building or district initiative and require prior approval (see Act 48 Solo Reporting Form).

TEACHERS:

Content Area All early childhood, elementary and secondary educators will be expected to participate in content-specific professional development within their area of certification or assigned work over the course of the Professional Education Plan. All teachers certified in Special Education are encouraged to obtain at least half of their required hours for Act 48 in one or more academic content areas.

Examples of Acceptable Activities: Building knowledge of literacy, mathematics and science-specific content ed by the Pennsylvania academic standards, for teachers who are assigned to those areas with Pennsylvania standards

Examples of Unacceptable Activities:

administration ograms for personal growth or an alternative career -level introductory courses, e.g., Introduction to Computers

unless it has significantly changed its focus or approach

Teaching Practices

Examples of Acceptable Activities:

in instruction classroom practices and collaboratively designing

instructional strategies based on analysis of the observed experience nce standards and instructional

strategies within other academic content areas o integrate technology into the

instructional setting

g environments

learners.

educational process

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h non-academic issues that may affect learning (grief counseling, intervening in student-on-student harassment, etc.)

-wide planning (strategic, professional development, induction, special education, gifted education, school improvement, interventions for struggling students, technology, student support, and wellness)

Examples of Unacceptable Activities:

ndent or principal

curricular assignments (coaching or advising of sports, drama, debate, clubs or student government)

SCHOOL COUNSELORS All elementary, middle and secondary school counselors will be expected to participate in content-specific professional development applicable to their assigned level of work over the course of the Professional Education Plan. This professional development should include studies to build capacity to address the needs of diverse learners who are below proficient or below grade-level ? i.e., those who, because of gender, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, learning styles, limited English language proficiency or disabilities, may have academic needs that require varied instructional strategies to help them learn.

Examples of Acceptable Activities: access, equity, and success for students trends in a multicultural, diverse society

and social barriers that impede ontext of relationships, issues and

n to student achievement

parents

of teachers, school leadership and , data-driven school counseling program

lementation, administration and evaluation School or district-wide planning and team training related to social and behavioral student health in conjunction with other professional employees, where those professional employees are receiving Act 48 credit

Examples of Unacceptable Activities:

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Anonymous Meeting

EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, EXCLUDING SCHOOL COUNSELORS: Educational specialists, other than school counselors, must participate in professional development activities that enhance their ability to meet the demonstrated needs of the students and families they serve in order to increase the ability of students to succeed academically. Content knowledge for education specialists may include training in how to reduce health problems and prevent health risk behaviors that delay student learning. Examples of Acceptable Activities: of students, families, schools and communities by using various types of data ning to acquire health risk reduction and prevention strategies -based health programs at state and national levels -wide programs and classroom management strategies designed to improve student conduct -organizational professional development on social and health services issues ess: CPR/AED training and certification updates uing Education Units (CEUs) for purpose of licensure - or district-wide planning (strategic, professional development, induction, special education, gifted education, school improvement, technology and student support, wellness) Examples of Unacceptable Activities:

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Act 48 Opportunities Offered through WSSD

Act 48 eligible hours offered through WSSD New teacher orientation & induction ? year one New teacher induction ? year two August In-service District-based PD August In-service Building-based PD November In-service District-based PD November In-service Building-based PD February In-service District-based PD February In-service Building-based PD June In-service or Flex Time Teachers as Scholars Program Monthly Faculty meetings where PD is taking place Monthly Building-based PD meetings Monthly Department Meetings where PD is taking place Vertical Team Work Act 80 Day training Professional Growth Plan ? Portfolio with Proficient or Above rating Professional Growth Plan ? Action Research or Lesson Study with Proficient or Above rating

Potential Number of hours 27 hours 5 hours Up to 5 hours Up to 5 hours Up to 5 hours Up to 3 hours Up to 5 hours Up to 3 hours 3-7 hours 7-14 hours 10 months = 5-10 hours 5-10 hours 10 months = 5-10 hours 7-15 hours Up to 4 hours 8 hours

12 hours

*Note from PDE: A professional educator is entitled to receive four (4) Act 48 hours for time spent preparing for one hour of presentation where the audience will be receiving Act 48 hours. The presenter is eligible for these hours on a one-time basis per presentation in a 4:1 ratio. Hours are not available for the delivery itself.

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